Partners' Capital Partners' Capital, Unit Activity (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Partners' Capital Roll Forward (Units)
Beginning balance (shares)	68,801,684	66,651,071
Unit-based compensation (shares)	5,997	5,958
Public offering of common units (shares)	733,601
General partner units issued (shares)	15,412
Ending balance (shares)	69,556,694	66,657,029
Limited Partner [Member] \| Common Unitholders Public [Member]
Partners' Capital Roll Forward (Units)
Beginning balance (shares)	21,738,692	21,509,651
Unit-based compensation (shares)	5,997	5,958
Public offering of common units (shares)	733,601
Ending balance (shares)	22,478,290	21,515,609
Limited Partner [Member] \| Common Unitholder Valero [Member]
Partners' Capital Roll Forward (Units)
Beginning balance (shares)	45,687,271	15,018,602
Ending balance (shares)	45,687,271	15,018,602
Limited Partner [Member] \| Subordinated Unitholder Valero [Member]
Partners' Capital Roll Forward (Units)
Beginning balance (shares)	0	28,789,989
Ending balance (shares)	0	28,789,989
General Partner Valero [Member]
Partners' Capital Roll Forward (Units)
Beginning balance (shares)	1,375,721	1,332,829
General partner units issued (shares)	15,412
Ending balance (shares)	1,391,133	1,332,829

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The number of each class of partnership units outstanding at the balance sheet date. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04.16(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04.16(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

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- Definition

Units contributed by each class of partners during the year. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

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- Definition

The number of units sold in a public offering of each class of partners' capital account. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

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- Definition

The number of units issued due to unit-based compensation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 272
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

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